Surrender (Intake) Guidelines
Notification Procedures
If you are called or notified about a dog needing rescue, please:
- Get all the pertinent information that you can about the dog – name, sex, neutered or spayed, age, exposure to kids, cats, etc., how long have they had the dog, prior owners, etc. Anything that will help with the animal’s placement. Please use the NEPR Surrender Form to get all the information needed.
- Get all necessary information about who has the dog – owner, shelter or rescue group, address, phone, e-mail. How long can they hold the animal? Is there a date the animal has to be surrendered by? Are there other family or friends who can hold the dog?
- If the dog came from a breeder, have the notified the breeder? The contract with many breeders stipulates that the dog must be returned to them at any age.
- Find out when the dog’s most recent vet visit was and the name of the vet. Medical records must be obtained and presented with the dog. Is the dog up-to-date on rabies, distemper, heartworm and flea and tick medication? Dogs with heartworm, knee problems or temperament issues can mean a large and long term commitment from rescue. We need to know as much as possible before we accept a dog into rescue.
- If an individual is surrendering the dog, please mention that we normally receive a minimum donation of $100 to cover the cost of fostering or any medical. I the animal needs spaying or neutering, additional money towards these procedures are encouraged. If they can not (or will not donate) we will still take the animal. Checks should be made out to Northeast Pyr Rescue and mailed by rescue volunteers to the NEPR treasurer, NEPR, PO Box 2, Strafford, NH 03884, along with the original surrender form.
- A copy of the surrender form and a digital picture should be e-mailed to nepyresq@nepyresq.org with information about the dog’s history and personality. This information will be used in the internet listing. If e-mail is not available, then this information should be mailed via USPS to Judy Tatro, 33 Old Main Road, Montgomery, MA 01085 or faxed to (413) 564-5125.
- If the dog comes from a shelter, find out how long he has been there, has he been temperament tested with kids, cats, other dogs? Why did the owner turn him in? Is it a kill/no kill shelter? Has anyone currently expressed an interest in him? Do they release to rescue groups and waive or adjust fees accordingly? Many shelters release to rescue groups at no charge – please find out the policy of this particular shelter.
Policies
- NEPR generally does not foster pyr mixes. However in extenuating circumstances a pyr mix that demonstrates qualities of the breed may be fostered with board approval. In all other cases, NEPR will place appropriate pyr mixes on our website and Petfinder and will assist with direct placement. We will help with other LGD breeds as well and our policy in these situations is to refer the dog to the appropriate rescue group.
- Please do not call your friends/relatives and attempt to place the dog with them. NEPR maintains a waiting list of homes that have been approved for dogs. If you know someone who may be interested in the dog, ask them to fill out an application at www.nepyresq.org and give you as a reference in the notes section.
- Rescue volunteers may adopt dogs and will get preferential treatment. Please let the rescue coordinator know if you are interested in adopting the dog to be your pet.
Assessment
- NEPR will ask a volunteer in the local area to go and assess the dog. All the information about the dog should be available at that time (papers, medical records, etc.). If the owner can not hold the dog, then the owner will be asked to transport the dog to a specified location for the assessment. NEPR makes no guarantee that the dog will be accepted into rescue either at the time it is assessed or later. All information about the dog should be brought with the dog (medical records, papers, etc.).
- The owner will be contacted about the dog’s acceptance to rescue as soon as a decision is made and space becomes available.
Surrender to NEPR
NEPR will foster dogs that are surrendered to us providing the dog has been evaluated, has an acceptable temperament, no serious physical problems and space is available in a suitable foster home. The most current medical records are essential and in many cases required by state law. A $100 surrender fee usually accompanies the dog, more is appreciated. If the dog needs expensive medical care or has temperament issues requiring long term rehabilitation, NEPR will ask the dog’s owner for reimbursement for the costs that will be expended in making this dog available for placement. In some extreme cases, NEPR may decide not to take the dog into rescue and advise that the owners euthanize the dog. We will give the owner the support necessary to help them make the right decision. If after a dog is surrendered to NEPR and it is determined that for temperament issues the animal cannot be placed with a new owner, we reserve the right to euthanize the animal as agreed to in the NEPR transfer contract. We have been fortunate in being able to rehabilitate most of the dogs we accept into rescue, but cannot always guarantee this result.Direct Placement
NEPR also offers another option for families who wish their dogs to have a minimum of disruption during the adoption process. Direct placement allows the current owner to keep their dog while NEPR assists in the process of finding the dog a new home. Internet access is required for this procedure.
- NEPR will post the dog’s picture, history and personality profile on our web site and Petfinder.
- The current owner will be e-mailed the adoption applications as NEPR receives them.
- NEPR will do home visits if requested on applicants who pay $25, but final screening will be done by the owner.
- The relinquishing owner will be asked to donate $100 to NEPR for this placement service and the new owner will pay the $300 adoption fee for the dog to NEPR.
- The relinquishing owner and the new owner will sign a transfer agreement between themselves, which will be supplied by NEPR.
Confidentiality
Once a new home has been found for the dog, Northeast Pyr Rescue will make every effort to respect the privacy and confidentiality of all parties involved in the transfer.
- Northeast Pyr Rescue will (1) not release the name of the dog’s former owner to the new owner and (2) not release the name of the dog’s new owner to the former owner.
- If in the event such information comes to light, the owners will release Northeast Pyr Rescue from any and all liability that could result from awareness of this information.
If the dog is placed through direct placement (see above), confidentiality does not apply.